Take concrete steps to end open defecation: Nitin Gadkari to Chief Ministers

NEW DELHI: Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari has urged all Chief Ministers to take concrete steps to end open defecation in their respective states.

Giving priority to scientific disposal of human waste, Gadkari, in a letter to the Chief Ministers, has urged them to pay attention to micro details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Clean India campaign, launched a month ago.

He asked them to take steps to install bio-digesters or twin pits to sanitise fecal matter, segregate non biodegradable waste, recycle plastics, and treat sewage.

Gadkari, who also holds the portfolio of Drinking Water and Sanitation, had recently increased the individual assistance for individual household toilets from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000.

Under the Swachh Bbharat Abhiyan, states have been empowered to devise specific Open Defecation-Free India programme, and the Centre will only monitor outcome achievement.

Appeal has also been made to launch advocacy and awareness campaign to trigger behavioral changes to promote use of toilets by rural families.

India accounts for almost 60 per cent of open defecations in the world, which has been described as "shameful" by many top government functionaries and civil society activists.